SHANGHAI — Josh, the first foreign patient to receive Satricabtagene Autoleucel (Satri-cel / CT041) — the world's first approved CAR-T therapy for solid tumors — at Jiahui International Cancer Center, was successfully discharged on August 16, 2026 after more than a month of treatment. At the discharge ceremony, the Jiahui team presented Josh with flowers and a Chinese peace buckle (平安扣), wishing him a safe journey home.
Josh, 59, is from New Zealand. In late 2025, he was diagnosed with gastroduodenal adenocarcinoma. Despite receiving chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy in his home country, his disease continued to progress. After learning that China had recently approved the world's first CAR-T therapy for solid tumors and that Jiahui had extensive experience in CAR-T treatment, Josh made the long journey to Shanghai, completing T-cell apheresis at the Jiahui International Cancer Center on July 6, 2026.
Josh with the Jiahui International Cancer Center team during apheresis and treatment — a coordinated effort by physicians, nurses, and apheresis specialists.
“From New Zealand to Shanghai — 9,000 kilometers — this was the hardest, but also the most worthwhile, decision I have ever made. The Jiahui team not only designed a precise treatment plan for me, but also gave me confidence and strength when I felt most helpless.”
A Heavy Tumor Burden — and a Precise Plan
According to Dr. Xuan Linli (宣珫丽), Director of Medical Oncology at Jiahui International Cancer Center, Josh's condition on admission was far from ideal. He presented with massive malignant ascites and a severe eating disorder — his ascites drainage reached 1,000 mL per day before infusion, and peaked at 2,000 mL per day.
“By day 10 after the cell infusion, the malignant ascites had significantly subsided, and the peritoneal drainage tube was smoothly removed before discharge,” Dr. Xuan noted. Throughout the treatment, the cancer center pooled multidisciplinary resources to tailor a full-cycle plan for Josh, and worked with the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) department to provide adjunctive management of side effects such as vomiting.
30 Days at the Bedside: A Multidisciplinary Team
Dr. Wang Hongzhe (王红哲) was Josh's primary physician during the hospital stay, accompanying him through the entire 30-day treatment course. Before discharge, Dr. Wang had already synchronized the complete medical records with Josh's treating physician in New Zealand. Recognizing that Josh would need ongoing care after returning home, the Jiahui team designed a detailed follow-up examination and treatment plan. Before discharge, Dr. Xuan held a teleconference with Josh's New Zealand physician to review the treatment, enabling a seamless cross-border handover.
“We hope every international patient can come to us with hope, and return home with confidence.”
From New Zealand to Shanghai — 9,000 kilometers by air — in pursuit of an innovative solid tumor CAR-T therapy not yet available in his home country.
Why Jiahui? — Communication, Speed, and Access
Before choosing Jiahui, Josh had received treatment proposals from hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the United States.
“I ultimately chose Jiahui because their team responded quickly and communicated clearly,” Josh said. “And this innovative solid tumor CAR-T therapy seemed to be the most accessible option for my condition at the time. So I came to Shanghai. But I had never been to China before, so naturally I felt a bit anxious. Fortunately, I met the Jiahui team — especially Dr. Xuan, who practiced medicine in the United States for twenty years. From daily communication and clinical workflow to cultural understanding, she made me feel very comfortable and at ease.”
Dr. Xuan Linli, who trained and practiced in the U.S. for twenty years, noted that many overseas patients worry about language, food, culture, and even religious customs before coming to China. “We proactively learn about their needs and expectations early on, and maintain communication throughout — so that by the time they arrive in Shanghai, they already fully understand the treatment plan. From dietary preferences to cultural practices, we tailor the experience for each patient to reduce the sense of being a stranger in a foreign country.”
On the day of discharge, Josh smiles at the hospital exit, ready to return to New Zealand and continue his recovery.
A Milestone: From Hematologic to Solid Tumor CAR-T
Before this case, Jiahui International Cancer Center had already provided oncology treatment to patients from more than 70 countries and regions, and had completed CAR-T treatment for multiple hematologic tumor patients from Singapore, New Zealand, Russia, Pakistan, and other countries — accumulating extensive experience. The treatment of this first foreign solid tumor patient marks a key step forward in Jiahui's CAR-T program: extending from hematologic malignancies to solid tumors.
Dr. Xuan noted that with multidisciplinary expertise, multilingual services, and cultural-adaptation capabilities, the cancer center is able to design personalized treatment plans for every oncology patient.
As the first foreign patient in China to complete solid tumor CAR-T therapy, Josh's successful discharge not only confirms China's global competitiveness in the clinical translation of cellular therapies, but also demonstrates Jiahui's ability to serve patients worldwide to international standards. Jiahui will continue to build a cell therapy platform shared by Chinese and international patients, so that the “China solution” can benefit more patients.
About Satri-cel (CT041)
Satricabtagene Autoleucel (Satri-cel / CT041) is an autologous CAR-T cell therapy targeting Claudin18.2 (CLDN18.2). It was the first CAR-T therapy for solid tumors approved in China. At Jiahui, the therapy is administered by a multidisciplinary team that includes hematology, oncology, intensive care, and TCM, supported by an experienced cell-collection and cryopreservation infrastructure.
For more on the first foreign patient's T-cell apheresis at Jiahui, see: First Foreign Patient CT041 Apheresis at Jiahui.
Considering Solid Tumor CAR-T (CT041)?
Jiahui's international oncology team can review your records and discuss whether CAR-T therapy is appropriate for your care.
Request a ConsultationDisclaimer: This article is based on a health-education post originally published by Jiahui Healthcare (嘉会医疗) on WeChat. The patient story is told with the patient's consent; identifying details have been preserved as published. The article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Treatment decisions should be made by qualified oncologists based on individual patient circumstances.
References
- Jiahui Healthcare (嘉会医疗). 首位来华外籍患者在嘉会国际肿瘤中心完成实体瘤CAR-T治疗，并顺利出院！ [First Foreign Patient Completes Solid Tumor CAR-T Treatment at Jiahui International Cancer Center, and Is Successfully Discharged!] WeChat post, August 19, 2026.
- Jiahui International Cancer Center. First Foreign Patient CT041 Apheresis Completed at Jiahui. 2026.